From Our Team: Getting Your Best Race Photos

Sunny day, a beautiful backdrop, and mid-course smiles. Perfect timing! (c) 2017 Focal Flame Photography | Credit: Brett Stepanik

Biking on a direct trajectory yields the best shot. (c) 2017 Focal Flame Photography | Photo credit: Clint Thayer

You’ve worked hard to prepare and perform in your event, and we want you to have the best photos to preserve your memories of your accomplishment. So we, the photographers and editors at Focal Flame Photography, would like to share some tips from our team to help make your photos awesome.

One way to help us frame a good individual photo of you is to try to “isolate yourself when you get near the photographer,” according to photographer Don Newton. To do this,“try to get to the edge of the pack,” suggests Focal Flame Photography co-founder and photographer Clint Thayer.

According to Newton, running or biking toward (but not into) the photographer gives the best angle for the shot. It is not necessary to lean in or aim your path directly into the camera in an attempt to get a good photo or a close-up. Leaning or veering won't result in the effect you are seeking, and it may prevent the photographer from getting good photos of the people around you.

Some people want to be photographed with a certain gesture such as a thumbs-up or (for Badger fans) hands placed in a "W."  Others want to capture themselves leaping into the air. For those photos, Newton suggests, "The ideal distance to pose is between 5-10 yards away from the photographer. People tend to hit their pose too early. If you want a good jumping photo, tell the photographer 1-2 seconds before you jump to give us slight forewarning, and we'll be ready to frame the shot.”

If you are running with someone else and would like to have both of you in a picture together, it's also a great idea to signal your intent to the photographer.  Thayer says, “Holding hands is a GREAT way to indicate pairing. Running very close to each other is the next best. “

Editors Glenda and Suellen Adams are runners themselves, and have learned a little about getting better finish line photos. “I have a tendency to drop my head when I am tired,” Suellen says.  And Glenda admits to a tendency to check her Garmin as she crosses the finish line.  “Heads up at the finish line makes for a better finish photo,” they agree, “so you might want to think about holding your head up. Avoid the 'watch check' or 'finish line selfie' photo - whatever you do at the line is what the photographer will capture.”  And as for that selfie at the finish line, Thayer reminds participants that “90 percent of the events we do offer free photos, and we get them online in less than 12 hours. It will be a better photo than you'll be able to capture with your phone, so feel free to just take in the moment and enjoy your experience.”

Members of a first-place triathlon relay team make it clear they are together, allowing a great group shot at the finish line. (c) 2017 Focal Flame Photography | Photo credit: Josh Zytkiewicz

Sometimes you have great photos from the event, but can't find them. There are some simple things you can do to make sure your will be able to find your photo after the event.  Photos are tagged with your race or bib number, but it’s impossible to tag you if your number is not visible.   

Hold your head up and enjoy your day!  (c) 2016 Focal Flame Photography | Credit: Don Newton

New runners sometimes do not realize that the bib should be pinned to the front of whatever you are wearing, not the back. A visible bib is critical for identifying you in your photos.  In many races, the bib also contains your race-timing chip, which makes it particularly important for it to be in front so it triggers as soon as you cross the line.  If your bib is attached to a race belt, sometimes it will shift and rotate around your body, so it is a good idea to check and slide it back around from time to time.

Sometimes you run a race that requires that you wear layers or a change of clothes. Try to predict what layer will be on the outside, especially at the finish. Or wear a race belt and make sure the number is always on the outside of whatever you are wearing. Sometimes despite your best efforts, the number gets covered up, so be sure to check galleries containing unidentified photos, too.

In races like triathlons that use body marking, where your bib number is written on arms and legs so it's visible during the swim portion, encourage the volunteer who is writing the numbers to make the characters large and clear.  "When you talk to the volunteer who's doing body marking, ask them to make the marking on the front part of the arm,” says Thayer. This will give a better angle for readability in the image.

Finally, Newton suggests, “Smile! (If you're into that sort of thing).” Of course, not every race is going to result in a smile at every moment. Some race days are just plain tough. When your inner fighter shows through, it can make some of the best images. Racing is not about modeling on the runway, it's about modeling what's important in life.

“Above all else," says Thayer, "enjoy your event and take pride in knowing that you set a goal and worked hard to achieve it. THAT will show in any image taken at any angle.”

- by Suellen Adams

Focal Flame Photography serves events throughout the Midwest and beyond by providing photo and video production services. We capture high-impact images of people #striving for their goals. Know of a race you'd like us to be involved with? Please mention Focal Flame to the event organizer! Are you a race director interested in working together? Contact us by email or online.

FocalShare Race Photos: There’s an App for That

Whether you’re running your first 5K, are a seasoned triathlete, or have been training for a multi-day charity bike ride for months, every race you do is a story. And that story is illustrated by your race photo. Sometimes it’s the drama of dedicating ALL of your energy to the course. Sometimes it’s the sheer triumph of finishing. Often it’s a commemoration of the freedom that comes from getting out there and living life to the fullest. In the end, is there anything better than sharing that story with your friends, family, and loved ones so they can experience the joy of race day?

That’s why we offer FocalShare™ free digital race photos, which are provided by many of the event clients we serve. FocalShare events include free digital downloads of your photos. As photographers, we view your ability to easily access and share your photos as critical. So for the past eight months, we’ve been working on a brand-new solution: the FocalShare™ iOS app. 

“A large proportion of participants in races we serve are accessing their FocalShare photos on iOS devices,” says Clint Thayer, co-founder of Focal Flame Photography. “Developing an app to empower racers to easily find and share their images right from their devices made sense to us, both as technophiles and photographers. We’re incredibly excited to offer the FocalShare app.” 

To install the app, click here or search the App Store on your device for Focal Flame or FocalShare. The app is free; just tap to download. 

Once you install the app, you’ll be able to access photos from recent FocalShare events. Click on individual galleries to explore, or enter your bib number to find your photos. 

After you find your photo, click on the “download” icon (which looks like a box with an arrow pointing upward) at the top right of the screen to view options for using your FocalShare photo. If you have the Facebook or Twitter app installed on your device, you can choose to share to those platforms with a single click. Otherwise you can choose to send your FocalShare image as a text message, in an email, save it to your device, and more. 

Perhaps you want to search for all photos of yourself, but you’ve forgotten your bib number. Not a problem: if you find one image of yourself in an event gallery, when you select that image, you’ll see “Search for bib XXXX” at the bottom of the image. The app is smart enough to detect all bibs numbers in a photo. Click the text to conduct a search for all images from the gallery with the same bib number.

What if you want to select and share multiple images? Also not a problem: in the gallery of interest, click “Select” on the upper right corner, then tap each photo you want to share. (When they’re selected, you’ll see a blue check mark next to the image.) Then tap on the “download” icon on the upper left corner of the screen to proceed. 

The FocalShare app was developed by a fellow racer, Glenda Adams of Maverick Software. “As an iOS app developer, I was intrigued by the technological possibilities of how FocalShare race photos could be used. As a runner myself, I knew how helpful it would be to have one-click access to my photos so I could show them to friends and family. Working on this app was both intellectually fulfilling, and really meaningful to me as a runner. I hope you enjoy it!” 

Additional resources:
FAQs about the FocalShare™ iOS App
Description – FocalShare™ iOS App

Behind the Lens - Video Production: Preschool of the Arts “We Believe”

Preschool of the Arts in Madison, WI needed a video that would help explain exactly what made the school unique, so they turned to Focal Flame for video production. Executive Director Stacy Mitchell said, "Everything I knew in my heart about our school was depicted with beauty, great skill and impeccable quality."

Once upon a time, in the small town of Reggio Emilia, a group of parents came together to discuss how to teach their youngest children. 

It was not a fairy-tale moment. The town had been ravaged by World War II, and the citizens of the village were still reeling from the aftermath of the war. But they were steadfast in their commitment to creating a better world for the village’s children. And they knew that a growing, young spirit yearns for expression through art, music, and movement. 

Together, parents, educators (particularly educational expert Loris Malaguzzi), and the children themselves joined efforts. Together, they began to heal. And together, they established a community school for young children that gave birth to a poignant yet ever-so-clear set of principles about learning. 

Similar to a resilient bloom emerging through rubble, the transformative approach to early childhood education grew. Over the decades it spread beyond Italy, beyond Europe, to locations throughout the world. 

One of those locations is Preschool of the Arts in Madison, Wisconsin. Established in 1975, the school began adopting the Reggio Emilia approach in 1995. For decades it has remained dedicated to facilitating child-focused exploration, creativity, and collaboration in some of the youngest learners in the city of Madison. 

When you walk the halls of Preschool of the Arts, you immediately begin to sense how unique it is as an early childhood environment. But the Reggio Emilia approach is still not well-known in the United States. In the process of communicating with prospective new families, faculty members, supporters, and partners, school administrators and board members realized that they needed a video that would help explain exactly what made Preschool of the Arts unique. At this point, they contacted Focal Flame to create a video. 

Stacy Mitchell, executive director, said, “Preschool of the Arts had the privilege of collaborating with Focal Flame on our most recent short film for our website and for promotional materials. When we discussed our mutual vision for this project, I was struck by how receptive the Focal Flame team was to subtle shifts and they made it a point to not only know our school and our philosophy of working with children, they understood the depth of what we wanted to convey.”

The project began with intake discussions between Preschool of the Arts administrators and Focal Flame co-founder and lead videographer Clint Thayer. Co-founder and writer Robyn Perrin drafted a treatment and narrative script, and Clint mapped out the creative imagery required for the project. Josh Zytkiewicz, operations manager, meticulously planned out logistics of interview and B-roll footage shoots, and provided skilled lighting assistance during shoots. 
 
The Focal Flame crew was entranced with the setting provided by Preschool of the Arts classrooms, art and music studios, and hallways adorned with student artwork. Clint said, “This space is a treasure cove of beautiful things, from the childrens’ art to the well-designed spaces indoors and out. I see something new and fascinating every time I walk through the doors and I had a hard time packing up.”

But the delight that the crew held for the school didn’t interfere with teaching. Stacy said, “Filming was easy and [the crew] was respectful to our time and our constraints. Clint and his team expertly set up and filmed with minimal impact to our school day. The team was able to pull from the testimonial filming and the classroom filming the very essence of our beliefs about children.”
 
She admitted to being moved to tears of joy when viewing the first draft. “Everything I knew in my heart about our school was depicted with beauty, great skill and impeccable quality. The result showed that Focal Flame was skilled in listening to our needs and giving voice and powerful imagery to our work with children and families.”

The stars of the production were the children themselves. Inquisitive, creative, and spontaneous, they surrounded the video production crew at each session with eager questions and expressed great curiosity about the equipment. But once their questions were satisfied, they shifted back to the moments at hand: a painting. A stack of wooden blocks.  A conversation with a friend. A full-throated singing session. 

The video included the perspectives of others key to the Preschool of the Arts community: teachers, parents, and leadership. Even the narrator, professional voice actor Sam Miller, is a Preschool of the Arts teacher.  
 
Stacy concluded, “It’s easy to make a whole-hearted recommendation for Focal Flame, but to see their work will give meaning and credence to my words.  I’m honored to have shared this experience with Focal Flame and I hope it is merely the beginning of a long-standing collaboration.” 

We couldn’t agree more - and we strongly recommend learning more about Preschool of the Arts, which holds regular community outreach sessions for mini-tours, coffee, and conversation about the school and its unique approach. Learn more at preschoolofthearts.com. 

Madison in Motion: One Photography Exhibit, Two Parts

motion (n.) 1. The action or process of moving or of changing place or position; movement. 2. Power of movement, as of a living body. (from Random House Dictionary)

 
Download catalogs of works available for purchase (PDF):

Madison in Motion Part I | Madison in Motion Part II

Many artists have a particular medium that feels like home. It might be oil paints, watercolor, textiles, digital pixels, or pen and ink. 

For artists with Focal Flame Photography, movement and light are the media of choice. It’s hard to explain, this feeling of returning to roots when depicting motion. But it has something to do with a deep understanding of rhythm and timing. And it has a lot to do with a propensity for observation. 

When you study human behavior from behind a camera lens for countless working hours, you begin to comprehend – and even predict – patterns of motion. People move with a studied elegance. Our belief is that it is based in an irrepressible joy that springs from kinetic energy.  

In fall and winter 2014, Focal Flame photographers offered a joy of their own: two art photography exhibitions in two locations. Titled “Madison in Motion, Parts I and II”, they investigated the meaning of motion as expressed within a defined geographical area.

Madison in Motion: Part I exhibited at UW Hospital during October, 2014. The exhibit included large-format canvas prints of photographs made by Focal Flame Photography founder Clint Thayer. 

“Madison is a city filled with everyday people that engage in athletic movement for a great many reasons,” said Thayer. “I wanted to honor that commitment to athletics by attempting to show their passion and dedication to push themselves further than they did yesterday, last week, or last year.” 

The images stepped the viewer through competitive phases. The images themselves were drawn from several different endurance sports. “There are aspects of sports that are universal, regardless of whether an athlete is a swimmer, cyclist, runner, or triathlete,” said Thayer. 

"Waiting" by Clint Thayer depicts a serene moment prior to a triathlon start. 

Madison in Motion: Part I depicted the anticipation of a race (“Waiting,” and “Spectators,”); the frenzy of beginning “(“Starting” and “Chaos,”), the mid-race deep introspection borne of physical suffering (“Focus,” “Breath,” “Driving Rain,” “Balance,” and “Pain,”) and the quietude of the final phase (“Sanctuary,” “Homeward,” “Return,” and “Contemplation.”) 

All works in Madison in Motion: Part I were presented as archival giclee prints on canvas, with dimensions up to 60 inches by 40 inches. “Only when printed at large format does the viewer begin to share the depth of experience that was lived by the athlete,” said Thayer. “For this reason, I felt that large format printing was critical for this series. It’s not as insistent in smaller format.”

Madison in Motion: Part II was a collaborative effort shared by three artistic forces within Focal Flame Photography: Austin Cope, Katie Richard, and Clint Thayer. 

Each photographer contributed five to six works. For Austin, it was an inaugural exhibition. His images also offered a unique interpretation of the concept of “motion.”

“[I had to] put together a cohesive sequence, [which] was a chance to go out on a limb and tell a more complete story,” said Austin. 

"Untitled I" by Austin Cope depicts the constant, unsettling, and frenetic motion of homelessness. 

Austin chose to use street photography to depict the frenetic movement inherent in the lives of homeless individuals in Madison. “These are images of real people in our city that probably have less than we do,” said Austin. “Above all else, I want viewers to come away with a better appreciation for what they've got and a renewed interest in giving to some charitable cause.” Choosing to leave all five of his images untitled, Austin paid tribute to the harsh reality of street life. 

Austin stretched himself while contemplating the composition of his images. “I used to hate square crops for no reason other than that they were hip,” he said. “Now I find them elegant. Challenge yourself to crop square for a while and I bet your compositions will improve.”

"Judges" by Clint Thayer dispelled the notion of an athlete performing in isolation.

Clint Thayer contributed a series of works focusing on another end of the socioeconomic spectrum: youth gymnastics. Since this competitive sport generally requires access to private lessons, gymnastics is, in a sense, a gated athletic community.  “I knew I wanted to attempt to tell a much different (and perhaps darker) story with my selections,” said Clint. “Because this was a joint show, we all had difficulties determining our narratives and how they would interrelate.  It was not until I had an opportunity to see Austin's and Katie's works did I know how to weave my contribution into the show,” he explained.

Clint’s sequence, shown in black and white, portrayed a vulnerable side of youth competitors who have devoted countless hours to developing agility, strength, and balance. While television views of gymnastics competitions may make it seem as if each athlete is performing in an isolated spotlight, Thayer’s compositions show that often they are demonstrating their skill within a few feet of teammates or competitors. In some scenes, teammates whisper behind cupped hands or level evaluative gazes, leaving the viewer to wonder who might be the more challenging judge – the competition officials, or the athletes’ peers. 

"No. 6" by Katie Richard provides an intimate view of individual striving. 

Katie Richard contributed the final sequence. During her study of collegiate league baseball as a photography intern with the Madison Mallards Baseball Club, Richard was surrounded by a sport that offers opportunity. The camaraderie of the team was juxtaposed with individual striving, a duality that is reflected in Richard’s images. “These [images] needed to be up close, personal, and showing an angle that only the team [members] could have,” said Richard. As a vantage point she chose the dugout, in line with first base. The resulting photographs give an intimate view into a sport that seeks to replace the anguish of the solitude shown in works by Thayer and Cope with a sense of completion, teamwork, and togetherness. 

In the end, Thayer found the intellectual exercise of bringing together three different artists’ visions to one of the most remarkable aspects of the project. “…I can see first hand the byproduct of the trust you gain in your colleagues through the process of working together,” he said. “Through the process of collaboration, we each had the freedom to tell a single component of the deeper, richer story.”

Behind the Lens: Mid-Year Recap

by Clint Thayer

Some of the Focal Flame Photography team: a rowdy crew, to be sure. L to R: Josh Zytkiewicz, Clint Thayer, Austin Cope, Katie Richard.

The middle of the summer often brings a slightly slower period for endurance sports event photography, which makes up one of the most visible components of our business (but by no means the only component). I thought it might be time to look back on the last six months and mention what the Focal Flame crew has been able to accomplish as a team - because, truly, just as sports is a team effort, so is photography. We have an phenomenal crew of photographers, editors, writers, marketing, and sales staff. When I look back at what we've been able to do in half a year, it's pretty remarkable - and worth recapping in case you missed it. 

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Version 2 of the Focalflamestore.com Online Store

Ooh....shiny new Focal Flame Photography online store. 

One of the most frequent comments we heard in the past is that our online store (for prints & digital image sales) was not mobile-friendly, and was a bit tough to navigate.  To address these issues, we rolled out Version 2 of www.focalflamestore.com in March.  This wasn't a switch to be taken lightly, given 2 million image views in 2013 - we had to make sure that the update happened seamlessly and without issue across all of the existing event galleries. We're so pleased see the benefits of the switch, some of which included:

• Responsive design for mobile and tablet browsers
• Improved navigation and communication tailored to specific folders
• Improved visual buttons to make it easy to download FocalShare digitals (for events that include this service. If free FocalShare digitals aren't included at your favorite event, please be sure to let us know - we'd be happy to discuss this service with event organizers.)

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Updated Focalflame.com Website

Aaahh...shiny new Focal Flame web site. 

Relaunching one web site isn't enough - how about two? You're reading this blog on our primary site, focalflame.com - and it also needed some love. On the heels of revamping the online Focal Flame store, we also completely overhauled our main website. Our goal was to make it a better, more responsive fit for our our love of storytelling and for the creative process and creative product.  The new site involves a lot of updates "under the hood" that make it easier to share our passion for both image creation and word-based storytelling with much greater clarity and ease.  Our site is now 100% responsive, allowing viewers a better experience on mobile and tablet devices.  We've also taken this opportunity to more clearly share our offerings for Event, Headshot / Portrait, Video Production, and Commercial Photography services.  The site also allows easier ways to showcase some of our best, most recent image creation work!

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New Partners

A high-energy commercial photography session at Dancing Lotus Fitness. SO much fun. 

We are extremely proud of our relationships and partners with businesses and nonprofits. One of the greatest perks of providing commercial photography, headshot, and video production services for businesses and nonprofits in the Madison, WI area (and well beyond!) is the opportunity to get to know so many different amazing professionals in a wide variety of industries. We make sure to survey each client after their project is finished, and honestly, their positive feedback has made us blush on many occasions.

We were honored to provide headshot photography services to J. H. Findorff & Son Inc., the construction firm behind such iconic Madison region buildings as Monona Terrace Convention Center, the Madison Central Library, Epic Farm Campus, and Epic Prairie Campus.

We believe in building a strong community, and our partners are literally the builders and caretakers of that community. We are so honored to be serving many new partners including Madison Festivals Inc, SportCrafters, UW Department of Emergency Medicine, Bikes Bikes Bikes, The Cookie Project, Environmental Chemistry Consulting Services, Inc. (ECCS Mobile Labs), J. H. Findorff and Son Inc. construction services, UW-Madison Continuing Studies,  Tri4Schools, Lincoln Financial Group, Dancing Lotus Fitness, Municipal Electric Utilities of Wisconsin, Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc....ok, you get the picture.

Here's the thing: these are amazing organizations. You may know some of them pretty well, while others you might have never heard about before. We'll be sharing some stories from several of our partners soon - stay tuned for more! 

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Lights, backdrops, and cameras come to play together at the Focal Flame Photography studio. 

Studio Space

It happened. Although we do a LOT of work in the field, we're also portrait, video, and product photography junkies...and those are indoor activities. There came a time when we just needed to give ourselves room to grow in terms of square footage, and this spring we took that opportunity to set down some studio roots.

The Focal Flame Photography studio is now happily located just off Willy Street in Madison, WI!  We have a 20' x 20' shooting bay available for creative projects, plus a similarly sized meeting area for use of our headshot/portrait and video clients as well as our growing list of commercial and product photography clients. The studio was also the site of our first-ever Girls' Night Out at the Studio event in the spring. The space will also give us a chance to offer some new and exciting services in the months to come. It's also got an amazing creative energy: in a former life, the building was a tobacco barn, which is the reason for the high ceilings and aged timber. It's a beautiful, quietly intense, meditative place for our photographers and videographers to work wonders. 

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We feel a need....a need for speed.

A Workflow That's Blazingly Fast

We spent much of the winter looking over our workflow for our event partners with one goal in mind.  Make. It. Faster.  Athletes have a need to speed, and similarly, WE wanted to be faster - because, let's face it: life is short, but time drags on forever when you're waiting around for your photos.  

And talk about speed - holy smokes! We were able to provide athletes at larger events such as the Madison Marathon spring races with photos less then 12 hours after the final racer crossed the finish line.  That same commitment to speed is pushing photo release time for some smaller events to less than 6 hours!  And as racers at events we serve know - our commitment to speed does not compromise our continued commitment to quality and customer service.

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We can't help but share the love. 

Spreading the Love of Photography Through Lessons and Classes

You know how you fall in love with something and can't help but tell the world about it? That's the way we feel about photography. And we just couldn't hold back anymore - so we established the Focal Flame Photography educational program. Now you can take photography lessons with us, and soon we'll be announcing classes as well. So whether you're brand-new to photography or are experienced but want to brush up on a specialized technique, contact us. We'd love to help you grow. 

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What our employees are proud of...

"I think we've gotten very good at our process.  It's almost second nature to us now." - Josh

(Editor's note: Josh also deserves a shout-out for accomplishing two semesters at Madison College with a 4.0 GPA!)

"The fact that we've had, and importantly still seek, continued improvement. Better images, delivered faster, from more events, and more of them. And still have this much fun doing it." - Austin

"I'm proud of helping the team capture people's joy in the accomplishment of goals!" - Kitty

"How much we've become a team together this year.  Spending more time around FFP, I can see us really creating a team." - Katie

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At the Heart of Everything: It's Still All About the Story

On any given day, stories are being created that will stop you in your tracks. We believe these stories need to be told. 

We started Focal Flame with a core goal of storytelling. That passion is still at our core, and it has come to life in several written projects that allowed our fans a glimpse at some of the coolest people in the world.  If you didn't see our series of Madison Marathon athlete profiles, hear about a heartwarming duo of an athlete living with Parkinson's Disease and his best friend, see this touching glimpse into a nine-year-old's take-home lessons from Girls on The Run, or watch the video about one family's decision to stand up for radical love by fighting for a little boy's special medical needs, settle in for some excellent reading and viewing.

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The Future is as Bright as a Flame

The flame in our logo isn't a gimmick. It's a symbol of life's determination and passion. And it is at the heart of everything we do, see, share, tell, and create. 

While we are proud of what we have accomplished in the first half of 2014 - we can't wait to uncover some of the things we are currently building. Watch this space for more updates - and in the meantime, we look forward to seeing you from behind our lenses, in the classroom, or just hearing your thoughts on social media or in the community! Thanks, as always, for your support. As a locally-owned business, it means everything.

And thank you for joining us on our mission to put good things into the world, one image and word at a time. 

Behind the Lens: Rhythm and Booms

"Chance favors the prepared mind." - Louis Pasteur

What do you do when your commercial photography assignment is to cover an event that lasts a mere 28 minutes, but that takes place over several square miles and took over a year to plan?

And that event happens...in the dark?

You prepare. You research, plan, strategize, and gather a team. This was the process required to cover the 2014 Rhythm and Booms Fireworks Celebration in Madison, WI.

Rhythm and Booms transformed the Madison, WI skyline - offering an amazing opportunity for fireworks photography. (c) 2014 Focal Flame Photography | Photo credit: Clint Thayer

Rhythm and Booms, founded in 1993, experienced a rebirth in 2014 by moving from its previous location in Warner Park on the city's north side to the heart of downtown. Though the change in locale was not without controversy, it was deemed necessary by the city to accommodate growth. Taking advantage of the natural landscape of Madison's isthmus, v2.0 of Rhythm and Booms was designed as theatre-in-the-round: fireworks shot from a barge on Lake Monona, reflecting off the water, with spectators gathered on shorelines. 

Focal Flame Photography was hired by the Rhythm and Booms organizers Madison Festivals Inc. to document the afternoon's festival and the fireworks display. Creating a media library of images that depicted the festival and fireworks with both sense of place and sense of purpose was essential. "It started weeks in advance, scouting locations, looking at angles, determining the story and assessing the requirements," said Focal Flame Photography founder Clint Thayer. 

Pyrotechnical effects of every hue illuminated the Madison, WI sky and reflected off Lake Monona. (c) 2014 Focal Flame Photography | Photo credit: Clint Thayer

"For example, we knew we had to tell the story of Rhythm and Booms being relocated to the shore of Lake Monona, so key photographs needed to depict crowds, the Wisconsin Capitol building, and - obviously - spectacular fireworks," said Thayer. "And while it only takes a few seconds to describe those images, it takes significant time to articulate that assignment to other photographers and communicate the clients' needs, so that as a team we could be successful in our image-making."

Thayer took on the role of both art director and photographer. "We elected to position four photographers in key locations to help tell a unique visual story of Rhythm and Booms," said Thayer. Those photographers - Thayer himself, Focal Flame associate photographers Katie Richard and Josh Zytkiewicz, and freelance photographer Matt Apps - were assigned to four different vantage points around Lake Monona. Thayer had a specific shot list for each position. "I’m very impressed and proud to work with our team...they executed beautifully," said Thayer.

Mirrored by Lake Monona and decorated with the city skyline, the fireworks danced and glowed in the night skyscape. (c) 2014 Focal Flame Photography | Photo credit: Katie Richard

In describing the role of art director, Thayer said, "A common technique for photographers is to pick up pencil and paper, then sketch out and pre-visualize the kinds of shots that they’d like to get," said Thayer. "You have to prepare the mind so that when it’s go time, there’s no questions. There’s no drama. You’re just executing the process that you’ve already visualized." He then talked with each photographer about details.

The focus on preparedness was critical for Zytkiewicz. Despite scouting out his location beforehand, he realized as soon as the fireworks began that he needed to make adjustments. "I had everything set up at my first location, hoping to get the Capitol with the fireworks right behind it," said Zytkiewicz. But when the pyrotechnics started, his heart sank - the angle wasn't right.

The Wisconsin State Capitol building becomes ornamented with light during Rhythm and Booms. (c) 2014 Focal Flame Photography | Photo credit: Josh Zytkiewicz

When the situation isn't conducive, change the situation. "I put my camera under the seat of the moped, camera bag on my back, and had the tripod resting between my feet and up on my shoulder, still extended." Parking his moped and running up Wisconsin Avenue, he found a suitable alternative location and immediately set up again. The result was an intimate view of the Capitol, ablaze with light. 

Crowds filled the venue throughout the Rhythm and Booms festival in the afternoon. Thousands of people gathered to enjoy a summer Saturday with family and friends. (c) 2014 Focal Flame Photography | Photo credit: Clint Thayer

Officers from the Madison Police Department collaborated with organizers to develop traffic entry and exit plans, and make sure that everyone was safe during the event. (c) 2014 Focal Flame Photography | Photo credit: Clint Thayer

Positioned near the fireworks barge, Matt Apps was pleased at being able to readily find a good position.  "I scoped out the barge and made sure it was visible at my vantage point, framing it between a few trees with also a view of the capitol....Figuring most of the fireworks would go straight up, my 16-35mm lens allowed me to frame the capitol and a good deal of area for the fireworks." But he soon found himself doing a balancing act - with hues. "The lights on John Nolen were pretty bright, and created a while balance issue as they were very yellow," said Apps. He was able to compensate, though, and made a photo that depicted both the forceful beauty of the fireworks and the sense of peacefulness evoked by a gathered community.  

Thayer anticipated the possibility of challenges. "Trees, light posts, people, boats - they can all obstruct the image you're trying to make," said Thayer. "It takes thinking on your feet, adjusting, and adapting to your circumstances. And not settling for mediocre."

Because the Focal Flame team had already completed an assignment for an early-morning triathlon event that same day, they were also working a late night after a 4 AM wake-up call. Dedication in the face of fatigue adds its own challenge. "You have to keep pushing yourself as a photographer and continuing to ask yourself, 'Could this be better? If I move a foot to the left or right, will that be a better shot?'" said Thayer. "It goes back to knowing your equipment, knowing your conditions, understanding light so that you’re not having to think about those things consciously anymore. You're only thinking about the final composition of the shot."

Despite the heat and crowds, Thayer found the afternoon festival easy to access. "I found it extremely easy to get to the heart of the festival, and found parking close by," he said. "The crowds were easy to work with, and people were smiling. They were clearly having an enjoyable time at the festival. I was impressed with how easygoing the Madison police officers were to the event goers, and to me as a media team member. They didn’t make a fuss; they were very accommodating."

Composition, deep understanding of light, technique - it all comes together when photographing fireworks. The great irony is that photography is painting with light, and yet fireworks photography spans the extremes of far too little light (due to nighttime) and far too much (due to explosions) - combined with split-second timing.

The first explosion of the show brought an elegant brilliance to the Madison skyline. (c) 2014 Focal Flame Photography | Photo credit: Clint Thayer

But all of the photographers were able to tap into knowledge built upon years of action photography to capture the timing of the fireworks. They also brought practical know-how from nighttime events like It's Glow Time 5K and techniques such as light painting. 

The band Big Head Todd and the Monsters headlined the free show at the Rhythm and Booms concert stage. (c) 2014 Focal Flame Photography | Photo credit: Clint Thayer

In the end, the most lasting impression of Rhythm and Booms for Thayer had nothing to do with photography - and everything to do with being a Madisonian. "It’s bigger than a venue change," said Thayer. "It’s bigger than logistics about vendors and food and pricing of food and beverages and all that. It’s about people like Madison Festivals Inc., and their event production partner Race Day Events LLC, and the pyrotechnic experts at J&M Displays, and nearly 2,000 volunteers all working extremely hard to provide a city an opportunity to celebrate and come together as a community."

Rows of onlookers gather at the shoreline, coming together for the Rhythm and Booms festival. (c) 2014 Photo credit: Matt Apps on behalf of Focal Flame Photography

Thayer paused to let the reflection sink in, then continued. "A community of all different races, socioeconomic strata, all different demographics. It is literally a meeting in the middle of a city that is often divided. I walked away from that night feeling like the location is central now; it serves everybody. Everyone has to come together. In that, I think one can extrapolate more meaning." 

All ages, all walks of life, together as one. For as he documented the festival in the afternoon, he saw thousands of people from Madison and beyond gather in the sweet, heavy, humid summer air to laugh, linger, and celebrate both togetherness....and independence.

- by Robyn M. Perrin

Prints of fireworks photographs from the 2014 Rhythm & Booms event are available for purchase. Half of the proceeds will benefit the Madison Festivals Inc. fireworks funds to ensure that this community event will be sustained for the future. Thank you for your support! 

10 Ways to Use Your FocalShare Digital Photo

As the saying goes, the best things in life are free. That's why free FocalShare digital photos are, well, awesome. If you've participated in a race or other sporting event that includes FocalShare service, you can download your high-resolution image at a cost of $0.00.

What can you do with your photo? If you're in need of creative ideas, here are 10 to get you started. 

1. Inspire a friend. Perhaps this is your first race. Perhaps you've been competing in your sport for years. Either way, there is a friend out there who needs you to say, "Hey, join me, this is fun." Maybe they can't imagine themselves at the starting line. Maybe they need some encouragement. YOU can be the person who shows them that it's possible, because you've been in their shoes - and now here you are, crossing the finish line. There's nothing more powerful than an image to start a conversation. 

2. Blog it. Do you chronicle your training and competition adventures? You're in good company. There are countless athlete blogs written by novices, women, men, semi-pros and pros - every sport, age division, and lifestyle you can imagine. Each blog serves a critical purpose: by telling your story, you help people understand your journey. You never know what spark this might inspire. Maybe there's a would-be athlete out there just like you that needs some concrete examples of what it takes to spend a day in your running shoes. Your race report can help them understand what it takes to get there. Without an image, all they have is your words to take on faith; with your photo, they can actually visualize not only the journey, but the beautiful outcome. 

3. Inspire yourself. Focal Flame Photography is headquartered in Madison, WI. We understand the realities of a true winter. There will come a day - likely in mid-February - where you need a reminder that at one point there was no such thing as a "polar vortex," that green grass existed, and that sweat can in fact flow freely. Download your high-resolution FocalShare image, print that baby out, and hang it near your trainer, treadmill, or gym locker. We promise: someday, it will get you through that remaining 10% of your workout. You're welcome. 

4. Spark a meet-up. Has it been years since you got together with high school or college buddies? What about your posse - the folks that stood up for you at your wedding, or fraternity/sorority brethren, or the friends you used to spend endless hours with hanging around the neighborhood? It's time to re-connect. Share your photo and invite them to join you at your next event. It might involve some cajoling, some bribing, maybe even some practical tips on how to train for a 5K. But follow through with the ask, and show them how much fun a healthy lifestyle can be. You know that it's possible. They just need an invitation.

5. Brag. Honestly, it's fun. And it's important. When you do something hard, you get to reap the rewards....period. Declare to the naysayers of the world (and even your support crew): CHECK IT OUT  - I GOT THIS. Remember: Pics or it didn't happen. 

6. Office decor. Some people decorate their cubicles with pictures of cats. We like cats. There's nothing wrong with cats. But you also have the option of framing photos of you being athletically awesome. This may in fact inspire you at a critical moment when preparing your next TPS report. 

7. Send to donors as a thank-you gift. If you have participated in a sports event as a fundraiser for a cause, you might be trying to think of a unique, fun way to thank the people who donated on your behalf. What could be more unique than an image of YOU in competition? Recognize the folks who put their good name and money behind your ability to persevere: show them what passion in action looks like. 

8. Holiday card. Toward the end of the year you may find yourself searching frantically for images that summarize a memorable accomplishment while wishing you could just get back to the festivities. Problem solved! What could be more poignant than committing to, preparing for, and participating in an event?

9. Hang it next to your kid's school photo. If you have kids (or if you're important in the life of a child as an aunt, uncle, grandparent, guardian, older sibling, etc.), you know that school portraits are a yearly rite of passage. It's important to put those school pictures up on your refrigerator. But it's also important to show the next generation what strength and dedication looks like. Don't hide it: children need to see that side of you. Even if they don't say anything about it, they'll internalize the message. 

10. Give back. Is there a coach, training partner, friend, or family member who made certain that you were well-supported as you trained? Whether their sweat equity was paid in voices made hoarse from yelling, patience as they watched the clock waiting for you to return from your training session, or camaraderie on the toughest workouts, you're simply not done with your event until you thank them. Show them what they made possible by sharing your race photo. 

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While the list above details a few of the things you can do with your free FocalShare photo...there are also a few things you cannot do. Here are three examples. 

1. Don't represent the photo as your own creative work. While your place at the front of the lens is first and foremost brilliant, every photograph is a relationship between two people: the photo subject, and the photographer. We at Focal Flame Photography are proud to hire the best in the business. Our photographers are highly skilled, experienced, and incredibly nice people who work exceptionally hard in every imaginable weather condition to make sure they capture you at the right moment and with true artistry. When you share your image, please take care to credit the hardworking artists who documented that critical moment. And please, don't submit the image to a photography contest as if it was your own creation. (Don't laugh. There is a reason we have to mention this.) Focal Flame Photography encourages sharing of FocalShare images by photo subjects, but retains copyright. 

2. Use a FocalShare image for disparaging purposes. Focal Flame Photography is on a mission to create good in the world. Images we create may not be used to disparage, harass, embarrass, or make fun of anyone or anything. We feel pretty strongly about this. Contact us if you have any questions. 

3.  Re-sell the image or use it for commercial purposes. FocalShare images are free to share for your own personal use, but attempting to re-sell or gain profit from it in any way is simply not ok. If you or another party is interested in a commercial use license, contact us - are more than happy to help. (But rest assured - we do not issue commercial use licenses without permission of you as the photo subject.)

How have you used your FocalShare digital? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter, or via email.

Behind the Lens: Observation

by Clint Thayer

People often ask me how I capture "such great shots." That question is difficult for me to answer because I don't think of myself as a great photographer; I just do what I do and photograph what I see.

Maybe Henri Cartier-Bresson, one of the world's greatest photographers, had the answer when he said, "the first 10,000 photographs are your worst." As a sports photographer, I (as well as all Focal Flame photographers) have the advantage of capturing several thousand images in a single weekend, so perhaps we have a better-than-average chance that our "worst photographs" are behind us.

But if I have to choose one photographer skill that makes the difference between the average photo and a "great shot," it is the art of observation. As a juggler needs to watch and learn not where the juggled object is but where it is going to be, a sports photographer has to anticipate the shot — read the human body in motion, anticipate the movement, and  know, intuitively, what is going to happen before events actually occur. If the photographer waits to see the shot in the viewfinder, by the time the shutter is pressed and the image created, the defining moment will be long gone.

Just as intense practice makes the difference between a good athlete, dancer, or artist and a great one, intense practice of photography skills makes for a better photographer. Sports photographers certainly get a lot of intense practice, yet you need more — you need heart, soul, and intense focus to anticipate the right moment. That's the power of observation at work and it makes all the difference.

The great mid-century American photographer Elliott Erwittsaid, "To me, photography is an art of observation. It's about finding something interesting in an ordinary place... I've found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them." I heartily agree with that statement.

To create a "great photograph" or - any photograph for that matter - one must cultivate the skill of observation. How do you look at a scene and determine the exact moment to release the shutter? For the most part I just watch people, and based on previous experience, calculate the possible interactions, anticipate the defining moment, and respond to what I see coming.

It takes time and experience to hone that photographer skill, to be able to see the visual details in the overall scene, and anticipate the right time to take the shot. That is why most professional photographers suggest that if you want to improve, you should shoot as much as possible.  By shooting, you are forced to look and by looking you are forced to see the array of possibilities.  By mastering the art of observation, you will master the art of photography.

May all your shots be great ones!

Clint Thayer, is the owner and lead photographer at Focal Flame Photography based in Madison, Wisconsin. He honed his art of observation studying photography at The College of Wooster in Ohio and under Richard Clarkson at the Summit Series of Sports Photography at the U.S. Olympic National Training Center, and by training in Miksang, a form of contemplative photography. He is a member of the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) and the Center for Photography at Madison (a group of Madison, Wisconsin photographers). Both organizations have helped him to cultivate his skill and vision. Encouraging others to appreciate creative vision as well as find their own unique visual “voice” is deeply satisfying. 

How do you hone the skill of observation? Share your thoughts and perspective!

Sport Art: "Homeward" by Clint Thayer Chosen by National Art Museum of Sport

by Deborah Proctor

The National Art Museum of Sport (NAMOS) offers a unique collection of fine art. Like other art museums, many forms of art are represented — from sculpture and paintings to mosaics and of course photography. Yet, unlike many art museums, the focus is on one thing, and one thing only, sport — or more specifically, the ART of sport.   "Art must depict or evoke sports, celebrating athletics or the athlete as a subject, whether individual or team, competitive or recreational, participant or spectator remembered, or studied still life, figurative, or landscape," states their annual competition materials.

Selected as part of the museum's 3rd annualInternational Commitment to Excellence in Art & Sport Competition is"Homeward," a fine art photograph by Clint Thayer, owner of Focal Flame Photography, Madison, Wisconsin. Thayer's work was selected from among hundreds of sport art entries representing 50 sports from 10 countries around the globe. The exhibition runs September 5-21, 2013 at the ArtCenter Manatee in Bradenton, Florida. The opening reception and awards presentation is on Thursday, September 5, from 5-7 pm.

In "Homeward," Thayer uses light and shadow to depict the Trek Midwest cycling team near the end of a long day's journey. This classic black and white sets the mood, while a strikingly simple composition captures the essence of the cyclists' story and draws the viewer into the scene. The description accompanying “Homeward” reads:

Lengthened shadows sweep across the road at the end of a training ride. A cadre of cyclists from the Trek Midwest Team head homeward after hours of drills over asphalt shared with milk trucks visiting dairy farms. Finely tuned to each other’s cadence, the teammates settle into tight formation as defense against the wind. At the top right corner of the frame, one rider trails behind the others. His presence raises questions: was he dropped from the pack? Is he fighting to keep pace with the others, lungs searing and breath ragged with effort of regaining his place? Will he overtake his teammates? Frozen in time, only shadows remain to tell the riders’ story.

When asked why he enters fine art competitions when his primary focus is capturing athletes participating in events such as 5K runs, cycling races, and triathlons, Thayer commented, "It's important to challenge oneself.  I believe artists need to push past the boundaries of known risks and open ourselves to a higher degree of possible failure...With my camera,...I have an opportunity to welcome an audience into a scene where the known and unknown provide a rich environment for the story...How could I not submit?"

Thayer feels it is an honor to be among the artists that represent"some of the best our generation has to offer." NAMOS obviously recognizes Thayer's talent for creating art from sport — his work has been selected as some of the most compelling sport art in the world in the 2nd Annual Competition; in a by-invitation-only Artist for the 2012 NAMOS exhibit entitled Speed and Motion: Racing to the Finish Line, and now the 3rd Annual Competition.

Founded in 1959, NAMOS maintains one of the largest collections of fine art depicting sport in the United States. The museum is dedicated to encouraging artists engaged in the genre, and also to collect, preserve, and share the best examples of sport art NAMOS can acquire. The museum’s first home was in Madison Square Garden in New York. It has been in Indianapolis since 1990 and is currently seeking a new home for its growing permanent collection

About the Photographer:  Clint Thayer’s artistic projects have ranged from following individual athletes throughout months of training, 15-hour Ironman triathlons, and 6-mile ultraswim events to photo essays of speed skaters racing on frozen ponds. He has exhibited and won awards internationally, notably: National Art Museum of Sport, Indianapolis, IN (2011, 2012, 2013); Center for Photography at Madison (2010); Lakeside, OH, Photography Show; Adorama iPhone Photo Contest (2009); and XI Concurso Internacional de Fotografía Apícola.

At Focal Flame Photography, we believe that sport art captures the essence of human perseverance, dedication, and passion. What are your thoughts about sport art? Share them with the Focal Flame community – we’d  love to hear! 

Behind the Lens: Mid-Year Reflection

by Clint Thayer

Where did the year go? It seems like only yesterday that I was just dreaming of business plans for the 2013 year and event season, and here I am right smack in the middle of it. That also means I am half way through the year and it is time to reflect on how my dreams are shaping up.

Just like the athletes I photograph, I track my numbers. Are my numbers better than last year? Are we photographing more races or more athletes? Is our processing time improving? I examined Focal Flame Photography's performance for the first half of 2013 and am pleased to say the answer to all three questions is "YES!"

In terms of our event photography services, as I noted in a previous post, the number of events we covered in 2012 soared 275% over the same period in 2011. In reviewing my numbers so far this year I discovered that:

• Not only are the number of events we cover growing but the number of athletes we photograph at each event is growing too. This year's Shamrock Shuffle, for example, grew from 3500 racers to 4700, nearly a 35% increase. When you think about what that means in terms of more people getting outside and embracing an active lifestyle, it’s fantastic.
• We have created more images —38,031 photos so far this year; that is only 5400 images short of the number we created in ALL of 2012.
• AND even though there are more athletes, more events, and more photos,  we are editing and applying bib numbers faster than ever  — averaging only 5.3 seconds per image. Why? Simply put, skill. Our editors are absolutely amazing – and amazingly efficient - at what they do.

So how do we keep up? Refining our process, learning what we can do better, taking hold of opportunities, and striving to improve. But I did not accomplish all this on my own...

Probably the biggest boon to Focal Flame's increase in productivity is the people we have added to our roster of talent.We are "buying local," hiring talented photographers, editors, writers, and logistical event staff to extend our core philosophy and help us achieve our goals. Focal Flame Photography is not just Clint taking a photograph, it is Josh, and Katie, Austin, and Deb working with Robyn and me to do what we want to do, go where we want to go, and figure out how we are going to do it. In future posts we will tell the stories of our talented staff.

What we want to do is tell your story with photographs.  One unique way we accomplish that is by creating custom photo books that celebrate personal milestones, document professional achievements, or create team memories.Custom photo books combine words, wishes, and photographs that will keep your story alive for future generations. We are currently working on a heart-warming story of a youth soccer team that has been playing together since kindergarten, and is now headed to middle school. Creating such a permanent memory is deeply rewarding to me.

Where do we want to go? My philosophy is to  "Go left when everyone else is going right."   That is why we have added a NEW video service to our Focal Flame gear bag. In the first 6 months of the year, we have produced some amazing videos for race organizers and commercial clients such the University of Wisconsin Master of Science in Biotechnology program. If a picture is worth 1000 words, just imagine what a 1-3 minute video can say.  Stay tuned.

And how do we want to do what we do?

I love creating unique, meaningful images of great athletes running, swimming, biking, diving into mud holes, and crossing the finish line. Editing race photos one day, I looked at all these amazing athletes doing what they do and thought, "What good does it do to capture these moments of exhilaration, determination, and dedication if only a few people see them?" How could I make it possible for these athletes to share these moments with friends, family, and teammates more freely? The answer — FocalShare™ a service for race organizers that allows them to give complimentary digital photographs to all of their athletes. We have completed a number of FocalShare events this season and the response has been extremely positive. Athletes love the free digital photos and share them with friends and family, race organizers love the buzz that sharing creates, and we just love the smiles all around. If you are not sure what FocalShare™ is, watch for a future post that will describe this program in more detail.

In reflecting on the first six months of the year, I see progress. We are photographing more events, providing photographs faster than ever, telling your stories in new ways, and delivering greater customer service and satisfaction to our athletes, event organizers, portrait, custom sport, commercial, and video clients, all while giving back to the community.  Thank you for the part you play in making it all possible.

What are your highlights from the first half of 2013? Share them with the Focal Flame community on Facebook,Google+, or on Twitter!